In a statement, the NWASA members recalled how the world recently “watched in horror how a human being was humiliated by others”.

On May 31, the French festival Marché de la Poésie (known as the Poetry Market) withdrew Morejon´s invitation in her capacity as honorary president of the event.

The invitation withdrawal, which thee NWASA members considered as an inhumane act, came less than a week before the event was held. It is the “most nauseating and insensitive disregard for any human being,” they added.

The Poetry Market Board of Directors publicly announced the decision had been taken in response to “some pressures, rumors and attempts exerted to date, by both parties,” the South African writers quoted.

There could be no worse case of insult to human intelligence than this, they emphasized.

In addition to the obvious irrationality of the reactionaries, is the public now being led to believe that Nancy Morejon has denounced her own invitation? asked NWASA.

We, here in South Africa, add a human touch to all other progressive voices by vindicating and immortalizing Nancy Morejon’s footprints in South Africa as a sister, aunt, mother and grandmother of African descent over and above her illustrious literary career.

Summing up, we the NWASA members call for the Marché de la Poésie Board to resign en masse, and for the new one to re-invite Nancy Morejon to the next event. It is the only and most humane thing to do to restore her impugned human dignity, they concluded.

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